In today’s first post-Thanksgiving Quick Hits, we talk about surviving the company Christmas party, whether Diaspora has a shot at competing with Facebook, and the possibility of a “Do Not Track” bill in Congress.

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Surviving the Company Holiday Party with Your Reputation Intact  

From drinking too much to fooling around in the copy room, this article from MSNBC discusses some of the many ways employees can ruin their reputations in the workplace at the annual company holiday party. What the article doesn’t mention is how indiscretions at the holiday party can wind up online and further damage your good name with friends, family, and future employers as well.

Employee Suspended for Bragging About Upcoming Layoff

If you hate your job, getting fired and receiving a severance package may seem like a blessing. But that doesn’t mean you should brag about it online, as one UK worker found out. This article from MSNBC discusses how a bank employee may have cost himself his severance pay by bragging about an upcoming layoff online. The article also offers several other examples of employees who have gotten in trouble because of their online missteps.

First Look at Privacy Social Network Diaspora

When it was first announced, Diaspora received considerable media coverage for being a so-called “privacy aware” social network. Recently, Diaspora opened to a private Alpha test. In this article from Ars Technica, Ryan Paul shares his impressions of Diaspora and speculates as to whether the open source network will ever be able to compete with Facebook.

New Worm Hits Facebook

ZDNet journalist Zack Whittaker talks about a new Facebook worm that has infected thousands of users in a few hours. The worms rely on users to click a shortened link, which then takes them to an unsecured site where their Facebook account is compromised. From that point on, the worm spreads to the infected user’s friends and replicates some more. The prevalence of this worm and others like it raise questions about Facebook’s security as the company continues to grow.

Do Not Track Bill to be Debated in Congress

According to the Washington Post, this Thursday the “House subcommittee on commerce trade and consumer protection will examine the idea of a Do Not Track bill that would prohibit Web sites and third-parties from tracking information about users who choose to participate in such a program.” The list of witnesses at the hearing has not been released yet.